The Designers 3D CAD Challenge

The Architectural CADD Cup

The Architectural CADD Cup is a trophy that stands as a symbol of excellence for the Teams who complete the three hour building charrette and particularly for the architectural CADD software they are using. The silver, crystal, and ebony trophy is inscribed each year with the names of the Teams competing, and is displayed at numerous AIA conferences, AEC Systems Expositions, Build Boston and other events. The Cup has a permanent web site, where designers world wide can get information about the Teams and the architectural CADD design software they used.

If it is called a "Cup" how come it doesn't look like a Cup ?

In the sailing community virtually every trophy that one can compete for is called a Cup. Very few of these trophies would be able to hold any water or look anything like a cup. Many of the ideas for the competition, as well as how the Cup passes from one winning Team to another, were adapted from the sailing world. Even the design of the Architectural CADD Cup itself, meant to evoke the suggested image of the letters "A-C-C" when viewed in perspective and also reminiscent of a building under construction, consists of three crystal "sails". The main part of the design is crystal, and when viewed in the right light from the right angle becomes virtually invisible again evoking the image of "virtual" or "virtual reality" which the competition is all about.

The analogies to the civility, class, organization, and professionalism of sailing competition evoked by the term "Cup" are thus just part of it. Another more practical reason the term "Cup" is used is alliterative, because the "k" sound fits better with the word CADD better than, say, "trophy". The terms "prize" and "award" also usually refer to things the winner keeps, as opposed to a perpetual cup trophy that is passed from winner to winner.

CAD, CADD, and Architectural CADD

(No it is not a typo)

In addition to CAD (computer aided design), and CADD (computer aided design and drafting), there also used to be CAAD (computer aided architectural design) as well as others pronounced the same way. Over time, the term CADD has evolved to refer to software used for drawing and modeling in engineering, architecture, and other design professions. The term CADD serves to differentiate such software from the many other types of design software the CAD term encompasses, such as CAE (computer aided engineering), CASE (computer aided software engineering (i.e. program writing)), CAD/CAM (mechanical engineering, manufacturing and prototyping), CAMM (laser cut model making), CAID (interior design), CAFM (facilities management). Many other professions, from musicians and Webmasters to theatrical choreographers, now all use computer aided design, hence, "CAD" software to do their jobs. Thus, "CAD" has evolved into the general overall category, whereas CADD refers to the type of software that results in drawings, models, and virtual reality environments. The sub-category of CADD that refers to design in the construction industry tried for a while to use the confusing terms CAAD and even CADIA (in Architecture), but Prof. Langdon introduced and promoted the far more descriptive term "Architectural CADD" in 1983. Now "Architectural CADD" is the preferred most prominent term for referring to the areas of architectural and interior design of virtual environments.

CAD --- Computer Aided DESIGN (general category, includes imaging, 2D, 3D, even clothing design)

CADD --- Computer Aided Design and Drafting (sub category for engineering and architecture)

CAAD --- Computer Aided Architectural Design (obsolete) now abbreviated "Architectural CADD"

Past Winners and Trustees of the Architectural CADD Cup :

1996 Winner - The ARRIS Team

Charlie White, AIA - Blaine Bershad - Issam Chahine

using ARRIS 7 by Sigma Design, Inc.

1997 Winner - The MiniCAD Team

Robert Anderson, AIA - Phillip Buterbaugh - Jim Larson

using MiniCAD 7 by Diehl Graphsoft, Inc.

1998 Winner - The ARRIS Team

Charlie White, AIA - Blaine Bershad - Issam Chahine

using ARRIS 7 by Sigma Design, Inc.

1999 Winner - The ArchiCAD Team

Angi Sams, Dan Hruby, Richard Crowe, Tamas Hajas (Coordinator)

 using ArchiCAD 6.0 by Graphisoft Inc.

2000 Teams - Arris, ArchiCAD, TriForma, VectorWorks, FormZ, ChiefArchitect, VersaCAD

All win Architectural CADD Awards

2001 Winner - The DataCAD Team

Jonathan Foster (Coordinator)

 using DataCAD 9 by DataCAD LLC

The Cup is currently on display at the offices of

Jonathan Foster

in New York City

The Deed of Gift for the Architectural CADD Cup

History of the Architectural CADD Cup

1995

December - An idea is born

1996

February - The Designers 3D CAD Shootout Web site is online

September - Alden Galleries crafts the Architectural CADD Cup from designs by Geoffrey Moore Langdon

October - Eight Teams will compete for the Cup - DataCAD, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD AutoArchitect, Arris, AllPlan, MiniCAD, Architrion

October - Like the scene in the movie Wargames, the Design Shootout Web site suddenly goes blank, frantic calls reassure all the competitors flying in from several contries that the competition is still on

November - The Cup is on display at BuildBoston96

November - The First Designers 3D CAD Shootout, at the World Trade Center Boston

November - The project to design is a Town Meeting Hall and Visitors Center on the Beverly, Massachusetts, waterfront

November - Like the game Jeapordy on TV, the action in the Design Shootout is usually way too fast for the audience to applaud, thus when they do, it truly is something special. In the history of the ACC Cup, The very first applause in the first Design Shootout, was for Rick Morse of the DataCAD Team, after Rick showed the most stunning rendition of the required 3D model.

November - The ARRIS Team wins the Architectural CADD Cup

1997

June - After being on display in the Arris booth at a tradeshow, the Cup, while stashed away in a car, explodes from the heat in the Lousianna sun.

October - The Cup is returned to Alden Galleries to be rebuilt

October - Twelve Teams will compete for the Cup - Arc+/ConceptCAD, DataCAD, AutoCAD AutoArchitect, ArchiCAD, Arris, SoftCAD/ArchiTECH.PC, AllPlan, MiniCAD, Architrion, DenebaCAD

November - The Second Designers 3D CAD Shootout, at the World Trade Center Boston, during BuildBoston97

November - The project to design is the Watch Hill Chapel and Arts Center, on a hill in Watch Hill, Rhode Island

November - The MiniCAD Team wins the Architectural CADD Cup

1998

March - Legal council determins that the value of winning the Architectural CADD Cup is over $ 2,000,000 to the winning Team

June - After being on display at A/E/C SYSTEMS in Chicago, the Architectural CADD Cup is stolen, it is later found, almost by accident, in a warehouse

October - Eight Teams will compete for the Cup - DataCAD, AutoCAD ArchitecturalDesktop, Arris, SoftCAD/ArchiTECH.PC, AllPlan, MiniCAD/VectorWorks, DenebaCAD, MicroStation TriForma

November - The Third Designers 3D CAD Shootout, at the World Trade Center Boston, during BuildBoston98

November - The project to design is an Entertainment Pier of 5 Restaurants, Amphitheater, etc. at South Street Seaport, NY City

November - The ARRIS Team again wins the Architectural CADD Cup

1999

January - On display at the Home Show while in the Arris booth, the Architectural CADD Cup is dented by a bullet shot from an unknown direction

April - Six Teams will compete for the Cup - DataCAD, Arris, SoftCAD/ArchiTECH.PC, AllPlan, VectorWorks, ArchiCAD

May - The Fourth Designers 3D CAD Shootout, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, during A/E/C SYSTEMS 99

May - The project to design is a spa at an Orlando, Florida resort hotel in Carribbean style

May - The ArchiCAD Team wins the Architectural CADD Cup

June - Graphisoft has the Architectural CADD Cup repaired and the bullet dent removed

2000

June - The Fifth Designers 3D CAD Shootout, at the Washington, DC Convention Center, during A/E/C SYSTEMS 2000

In the year 2000 the Designers 3D CAD Shootout makes a metamorphosis from a competition to an educational demonstration event that challenges architects. The Architectural CADD Cup becomes a symbol for those who have completed that three hour building design charrette and celebrates that achievement. It thus is awarded not just to one winner but to every single person who completes this task, as a symbol of that excellence.

2001

May - The Sixth Designers 3D CAD Challenge begins - morphing from the term "shootout" to "challenge" and expanding the time for the "charrette" from 3 hours to 6 months by making use of digital screen recordings. Another rule change allows unlimited number of "Teams" The original project is an entertainment theme restaurant called Wizards and Witches Cafe, which includes game areas and "flying area" (vertical wind tunnel), shops, several bars and restaurant areas.

Sept - The World Trade Center disaster prompts the Design Challenge organizers to shift the competition to a public service of investigating what to do with the former site of the New York World Trade Center. No buildings are required, but because of the virtual reality nature of the Designers 3D CAD Challenge, and the speed of how designs can be visualized, it is felt that it is the best way for the public to visualize the possibilities (including doing nothing) and to start the healing process- designers are free to explore any option, but expected to provide at least some kind of memorial.

November - The Sixth Designers 3D CAD Challenge, at the World Trade Center Boston, during BuildBoston2001

November - The DataCAD Team of Jonathan Foster from New York City wins the Architectural CADD Cup

2002

June - As a public service, designs are continually being accepted for the World Trade Center site, even though the 2001 Challenge is officially over, and displayed on the Design Challege web site.

July - The Seventh Designers 3D CAD Challenge begins - with two significant changes - first, the designers (now unlimited number of Teams) will provide examples of how they would design to 20 different challenges (as opposed to producing one building design) allong a theme building type and site - a neighborhood shopping center in Annapolis, Maryland, the second change is that the Design Challenge staff will give ALL of the presentations - to assure equal time and fairness, and make sure all the CADD options are covered.

November - The Seventh Designers 3D CAD Challenge, at the World Trade Center Boston, during BuildBoston2002